Senator, the Lancashire-based furniture company, is eyeing new export markets
after sales topped £100m for the first time.

The company exports to 65 countries and is seeking out partners in new markets to capitalise on growth areas, after pre-tax profits rose by £2.8m to £3.3m last year.

Senator, which has a 15pc share of the UK office furniture and storage sector market, already sells into parts of Europe and the Middle East and has partner companies in China and Australia. It has its own manufacturing operation in the US. The company’s capital expenditure over the past 18 months has been £5.8m, at a time when many companies are unwilling to invest because of the uncertain economic outlook.

“Our balance sheet remains strong and that has allowed us to invest heavily over the last few years in product development and in developing and improving the infrastructure of our business,” said Robert Mustoe, Senator’s managing director.

“America is a very large market and one where we see plenty of scope for future improvement, but it is not an easy market.”